Automatic alarm device.



A. P. WILLOUGHBY & W. D. BOLDING. AUTOMATIC ALARM DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 30, 1914. 1,1 31,452. Patented M21129, 1915.

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Elwuzwtom Wm v ygf gfk y y THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTG-LITHQ, WASHINGNN, D. C.

A. P. WILLOUGHBY & W. BOLDING. AUTOMATIC ALARM DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1914. 1,1 31 ,452, Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M atbo'snea o THE MORRIS PETERS CO. PflorD-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C.

" f TED STATES PATENT OFFIEE.

ALFORD PERVIS WILLOUG-HBY AND WILLIAM D. BOLDING, OF OLNEY, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC ALARM DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed June 30, 1914. Serial No. 848,280.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ALronn PERVIS Wm LOUGHBY and WILLIAM D. BOLDING, citizens of the United States, residing at Olney, 1n the county of Young and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Automatic Alarm Device; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic alarm devices, and particularly to an improved tripping mechanism adapted to be automatically actuated by the severing of a cord or the like through the medium of fire, to release the escapement of a conventional form of spring motor, thereby allowing the clapper carried by the escapement to consecutively strike the alarm bell.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an indicator or signal vane carried by the tripping mechanism and adapted to be disclosed or displayed, thereby indicat ng the necessity of resetting or rewinding the alarm device, particularly the conventional form of spring motor thereof.

In practical fields the details of construction may be subjected to alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and clalmed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 1s a view showing the improved automatic alarm system as applied in conjunction w1th a chimney or flue and adjacent the ceiling of a room. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the box or inclosure in which the alarm mechanism including the tripping device is arranged, illustrating the tripping device as holding the escapement mechanism of the conventional form of spring motor against operation, and the signal or indicator vane obscured from view. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the parts of the tripping mechanism after the cord (which holds the tripping mechanism) has become severed by the fire or the like, and the indicator or signal vane being disclosed, thereby indicating that the spring motor needs rewinding. Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view on line 4l4c of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the tripping mechanism detailed by itself.

Referring more especially to the drawings,

1 designates the ceiling of a room, 2 the chimney or flue, about which adjacent the ceiling a cord or twine or the like 3 is arranged, there. being eyes 4 to hold the cord or twine 3 in place. Adjacent the upper portion of the fine or chimney is a second cord, twine or the like 5 arranged in the eyes 6, and on the cord or twine 5 is a ring 7. A third cord or twine or the like 8 is connected at 9 to the cord 3, passing upwardly adjacent the flue or chimney and through the ring 7, then inclined laterally downwardly and adjacent the roof 10 of the dwelling or the like, through an eye 11, and has its ends connected at 12 to the coil spring 13, which in turn is connected at lt to the trip wire or rod 15 of the tripping mechanism, which is mounted in a casing or inclosure 16. This tripping mechanism comprises a U-shaped lever 18 pivoted at 19 in the casing or inclosure. The free end of the lever 18 is constructed with an eye 20, coiled or twisted from the wire of said lever. A steel wire spring 21 is secured at 22 upon the inner face of one of the side walls of the casing and terminates in a knob or an enlargement beyond the eye 20, through which said wire spring extends. This knob or enlargement 2& acts to prevent disconnection between the wire spring and the eye 20. The trip wire or rod 15 has an eye 25 connected to the wire spring. The trip wire or rod 15 is provided with additional eyes 26 and 27, and the portion of the trip wire or rod between the eyes 26 and 27 passes through the eye 28 of the arm 29 of the escapement mechanism 30 of the conventional form of spring motor 31, thereby forming a loose connection. An arm 32 is carried by the rocking rod 33 of the escapement mechanism, and is provided with a clapper 34, so that when the escapement bar 35 oscillates with the rocking rod, the clapper will consecutively strike the alarm bell.

lVhen the cord 8 is drawn taut and set, as shown in Fig. 1, and the spring 13 stretched substantially its full capacity, the trip rod or wire is in such a position that the eye 26 thereof is in contact with the eye 28 of the arm 29, thereby preventing the escapement mechanism from operating, and in which case the clapper is held out of contact with the bell. However, just so soon as either one of the cords or the like 3, 5 and 8 become severed by fire or otherwise, the spring 21 pulls the trip rod or wire in the direction of the arrow a, thereby moving the eye 26 out of contact with the eye 28, thereby releasing the arm 29, which results in the automatic oscillation of the escapement mechanism, that it, when the spring motor is wound by the key 36, thereby causing the clapper to consecutively strike the bell, notitying the occupants of the house or dwelling of the fire. In holding the arm 29 and the escapement mechanism against opera tion, it is not necessary that the eye 26 should engage the eye 28, because when the trip wire or rod 15 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, that portion of the wire or rod 15 which engages the eye 28 is moved slightly laterally, or in a lateral position to that shown in Fig. 8, thereby frictionally binding and holding the arm 29 against oscillation.

One end of the U-shaped lever 18 has an upwardly extending arm 39 provided with an indicator or signal vane 40, which, when the trip rod or wire 15 releases the escapement mechanism, swings downwardly from the casing disclosing itself to vision, thereby indicating that the spring motor of the alarm device needs rewinding and that the trip wire or rod should be reset, that is, in case the cords have become accidentally severed.

The body of the casing may be of any desired shape and configuration, and is provided with tangs 42 passing through the slots or openings $3 of the cover 44, and bent over as shown, so as to hold the cover in place. The casing is also constructed with laterally extending apertured lugs 45, to receive suitable screws or the like 46, whereby the casing may be secured to the ceiling or other suitable stationary support.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is In combination with an escapement mechanism of a spring motor having a bell clapper, an arm having an eye at its free end carried by the rocking rod'of the escapement mechanism, a wire spring, a trip wire or rod connected to the wire spring and provided with a member and adapted to be held against the action of the spring with the member in contact with the eye of the arm to prevent operation of the escapement mechanism, and means for holding the trip rod or wire set, which means when it becomes severed or its tension otherwise relieved releases said trip wire or rod, which in turn permits the escapement mechanism to actuate the clapper, a U-shaped pivoted lever having an eye engaged by the spring, said lever having an indicator or signal vane held obscured by the trip rod against the action of said spring, said spring also acting to throw the vane into vision when the trip rod is actuated.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFORD PERVIS WTLLOUGHBY. WILLIAM D. BOLDING. Witnesses J. L. VAUGHN, M. L. \Vooo.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

